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Site Report: Koyukuk Elementary School

Site Name: Koyukuk Elementary School
Address: Koyukuk, Koyukuk, AK 99754
File Number: 830.38.001
Hazard ID: 1592
Status: Active
Staff: Nick Waldo, 9074655270 nick.waldo@alaska.gov
Latitude: 64.881543
Longitude: -157.704205
Horizontal Datum:WGS84

We make every effort to ensure the data presented here is accurate based on the best available information currently on file with DEC. It is therefore subject to change as new information becomes available. We recommend contacting the assigned project staff prior to making decisions based on this information.

Problems/Comments

During 1992, school addition project contractors detected strong hydrocarbon odors. Estimated release of 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel over time. Source was thought to be a historical spill from a broken line and a leak at fittings along the fuel line connecting the barge off-loading facility to the school's above ground fuel storage tanks and the generator building. Analytical samples from the limits of excavation (7.5 feet below ground surface) showed diesel range organics (DRO) present from 4,000 to 10,000 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). Three hundred cubic yards of soil was excavated and stockpiled. Long term storage was in a 50 x 100 foot cell west of the school's tank farm. In 1997, the stockpile was treated with thermal desorption. After treatment, 165 cubic yards met the cleanup levels established for this site and 118 cubic yards remained at above cleanup levels, but below 650 mg/kg. ADEC approved these soils for use as daily cover at the Koyukuk landfill. The village well was sealed with bentonite and is monitored annually for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a protective measure. Vertical and horizontal extent of contamination not delineated. Possible groundwater impacts were not characterized. Benzene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were not characterized. Native soils at original stockpile location (on school grounds) are contaminated with diesel range organics (DRO) up to 3,970 mg/kg. Permafrost is present from 7 to 14 feet below ground surface (bgs), and extends to approximately 28 feet bgs. Groundwater is 35 to 50 feet bgs and below the permafrost layer.

Action Information

Action Date Action Description DEC Staff
5/27/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1 - Phase I Site Assessment (General)). Shannon and Wilson, Inc. Dan Basketfield
6/5/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2 - Phase II Site Assessment (General)). Sampling undertaken concurrent with excavation of contaminated soil. Dan Basketfield
7/30/1992 Site Added to Database Heating oil. Former Staff
7/30/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA1R - Phase I SA Review (CS/LUST)). Staff reviewed contaminated site excavation and subsequent site assessment. Dan Basketfield
9/8/1992 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = RPL2 - Site Information Request Letter). ADEC sent PRP-CS Database Notification Letter to RP requesting update and more environmental information concerning the contaminated site. As of this "complete date", no response received. Jeff Peterson
12/11/1992 Meeting or Teleconference Held Met with Jack Sherman (Yukon-Koyukuk School District), Christopher J. Heaphey, Atty. (Blanstone and McCollum, Anch), Diane Stevens (Department of Community and Regional Affairs), and Lauries Lolnitz (City of Koyukuk) concerning soil contamination at site of Koyukuk School. Scoping meeting. Indicated that contamination needs to be characterized. Dan Basketfield
10/6/1993 Cleanup Assumed by ADEC (Old R:Base Action Code = SLC - Site Lead Cleanup). ADEC staff requested, received and reviewed proposal by Shannon and Wilson to develop work plan and estimate for investigation and cleanup recommendations. Monies were appropriated for cleanup by special legislative grant for FY94. Work plan will be developed this winter by S&W under term contract. Cindy Thomas
12/20/1993 Update or Other Action (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2 - Phase II Site Assessment (General)). ADEC staff received report from Shannon and Wilson: Site Assessment, regarding summary of findings from field investigation last winter. Soil contamination noted along location of old fuel line. Water well not impacted but soil around well casing is contaminated. Tank farm does not appear to be leaking. Recommendations include capping surface area of old fuel line, installing a bentonite seal around VSW well casing, and treating soil stockpiles off-site out of the village. Cindy Thomas
3/7/1994 Site Ranked Using the AHRM Initial ranking. Former Staff
4/1/1994 Site Characterization Report Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = SA2R - Phase II SA Review (CS)). ADEC staff reviewed report from Shannon and Wilson: Site Assessment, and agreed with recommendations. Suggested using land spreading as an option. Requested S&W to develop proposal for corrective action. Expect work to take place this summer. ADEC will issue 2nd NTP upon approval of CAP. Cindy Thomas
6/25/1994 Cleanup Plan Approved (Old R:Base Action Code = CAPR - Corrective Action Plan Review (LUST)). ADEC staff reviewed and approved a CAP which included: Sealing the village well casing, sampling and re-covering the existing stockpile, placing cover material over old spill location, and final sampling and closure of stockpile. Tasks will be spread out between 1994 and 1996, because of weather and equipment limitations. Cindy Thomas
1/17/1995 Update or Other Action SITE SUMMARY: Spill site will be capped in spring 1995 after winter gravel haul operation complete. Only other outstanding issue is the fate of soil stockpile (still hot). Funds will be available to manage as long term storage. Pile should be sampled annually until levels decrease. Soil may go to new or old landfill. Shannon and Wilson has term contract. Check with Brad Hahn on funding status. Cindy Thomas
7/11/1995 Update or Other Action ADEC received a Status Report from Shannon and Wilson. Completed soil capping activities and results of a water sample. Shah Alam
1/3/1997 Update or Other Action School well decommissioned and permanently closed due to proximity of contamination. School and city now served by Koyukuk Safewater Facility. Well for the Koyukuk Safewater Facility is within 100 feet of the site. Added in 2007 to reflect administrative file. Shannon Oelkers
1/3/1997 Institutional Control Record Established Annual monitoring of drinking water for VOC's established. Added in 2007 to reflect administrative file. Shannon Oelkers
6/29/1998 Update or Other Action Shannon and Wilson (David McDowell) telephoned Shah Alam today to inform that the soil remediation project will not be completed by the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 1998). Shah Alam
1/8/1999 Cleanup Level(s) Approved ADEC issued an ACL letter and cleanup decision letter to the school district. Based on the ACL, thermally remediated soils met cleanup level. Shah Alam
1/20/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC sent a letter to YKSD explaining the reuse of the soils as daily cover material not as final cover material. Shah Alam
6/3/1999 Update or Other Action ADEC and Shannon and Wilson agreed to pay 75% of the cost of soil remediation that did not meet cleanup level. Shah Alam
10/15/1999 Update or Other Action Soils underlying the former stockpile location was identified as being contaminated with DRO above the established cleanup levels. The School District should address this matter and coordinate any assessment (and corrective action) activity with ADEC. Shah Alam
1/12/2007 Update or Other Action Updated problem statement to reflect administrative file. Changed staff assigned from Pikul to Oelkers. Shannon Oelkers
2/12/2007 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Shannon Oelkers
7/27/2007 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Oelkers to Farris. Shannon Oelkers
4/9/2009 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking Initial ranking with ETM completed for source area id: 72570 name: Bulk Storage Tank Farm and Former Pipeline Antoine Doiron
12/29/2010 Exposure Tracking Model Ranking The ETM ranking was reviewed and appears appropriate for source area 72570 Bulk Storage Tank Farm and Former Pipeline. Ann Farris
2/5/2014 Update or Other Action Site transferred from Boger to Dieffenbacher. Rebecca Bryan
7/31/2014 Update or Other Action Staff changed from Amy Dieffenbacher to Melody Debenham. Kristin Thompson
9/4/2015 Update or Other Action Site changed from Debenham to Carnahan. John Carnahan
7/11/2022 Site Characterization Workplan Approved YKSD is redeveloping the property to the west of the school as a playground. DEC reviewed and approved a work plan for characterizing the soils under the new playground and excavating any contamination found. The approved workplan is not intended to fully characterize or clean up the remainder of the site. Nick Waldo
7/6/2023 Site Characterization Report Approved A report detailing the partial characterization and cleanup under the footprint of the playground was approved. Playground construction is projected to begin later this summer. Unexpected contamination was identified under the liner of one former tankfarm and field deviations were made from the workplan. Nick Waldo

Contaminant Information

Name Level Description Media Comments

Control Type

Type Details

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Description Details

No associated sites were found.

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State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

P.O. Box 111800
Juneau, AK 99811-1800
Phone: 907-465-5066
Fax: 907-465-5245
TDD: 800-770-8973
Physical Location: 410 Willoughby